History
at Queen’s University Belfast:
preparing students for
employment
Introduction
• We do not just produce
history teachers
• 60% of graduate
employers take on
History students
• This presentation
indicates the diverse
careers our graduates
pursue and explains our
skills and employability
centred focus
The History graduate’s skills
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Research
Communication
Independent working
Analysis
Evaluation
Synthesising arguments
Empathy with the views
of others
Time management
Self-evaluation
Group working
Professional presentation
Level One – Nurturing Skills
Example module:
History and Historians
• Historical truth, ‘contested
pasts’, public history
• Fieldtrips, and presentations
from media experts
Assessment Methods
• Tutorial Journal (40%)
• Assessed essay (15%)
• Public history group-project
proposal (30%)
• Group presentation (15%)
Level Two – enhancing skills
Example module: History and
Society
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Explores relationship between
academic and public history
Students prepare group project on
plan for new museum or heritage
centre
Plan includes financial budget and
marketing as well as historical
content.
Students advised by QUB School
of Management, Career Guidance
staff and member of staff from the
Heritage Lottery Fund.
Assessment: Individual
bibliographic essay (30%), group
presentation (25%), individual
report (20%) participation in
online group discussions (25%)
Level Two – enhancing skills
Example module: Recording
History
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Students take part in oral history
project
Complete professional and
accurate recordings and
transcripts
Analyse material and ‘pitch’
programme ideas to BBC Radio
Ulster
BBC (and students) convert strong
ideas into radio programme
Assessment by interview
transcript (20%); critical
commentary on interview (20%);
project report (50%); group ‘pitch’
to BBC (10%)
Level 3 – Independence, imagination and
quality
Example module
The dissertation
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Independent research to produce
10,000 – 12,000 words
Individually negotiated topic with a
supervisor
Analyse primary sources
Synthesis secondary sources and
their arguments
Draft chapters, receive feedback,
reflect, revise and improve
Completes undergraduate training
as a historian
Develop skills of independent
research, time management,
extended writing, production of
timely and professional writing
Stretching ambition and broadening
horizons
• Degree Plus (directed
pathways for acquisition of
additional skills and
experiences).
• Short internships at Lincoln
Presidential Museum in Illinois
• Opportunities to spend a
semester abroad with one of
our numerous Erasmus
partners (e.g. Amsterdam,
Athens Berlin, Venice)
• Workshops led by alumni
offering current
undergraduates the benefit of
their knowledge
Overall aims
• Our curriculum is designed to
enhance student skills and
employability
• It provides teaching
experiences and assessment
methods that enable students
to create an impressive
narrative on their CVs and in
job interviews
• They are able to provide
evidence of their transferable
skills.
Recent graduate career destinations
• Peter Coulter, BBC (pictured)
• Sean Sorohan, Senior
Associate: PWC
• Neil Halliday, Manager: Action
Renewables
• Jane Brown, Management
Trainee: Boots
• Leigh Egerton (pictured),
Policy Officer: Department for
International Development
More recent graduates
• Chris Perry (pictured),
Project Manager at NI
Housing Executive
• Rachel Telfer, Graduate
Trainee (Library),
Lincolns Inn
• Jacqueline McCarthy
(pictured), Marketing and
Communications
Manager: British Council
And more
• William Patterson,
Manager; Forestry
Commission
• Neal Gartland, Research
and Policy Officer: UUP
• Will Wyeth (pictured),
Heritage Education
Trainee: Royal
Commission on the
Ancient and Historical
Monuments
And more
• Ashleigh Simpson
(pictured), Public Affairs:
Royal College of General
Practitioners
• James Gore, Manager:
Aldi
• Cheryl Tracey, Teacher,
Liverpool
• Raymond Johnston,
Solicitor: Edwards & Co.
And more
• Shane Quinn,
Development Officer:
Belfast Buildings
Preservation Trust
• Ian Hunter (pictured with
Professor David Hayton),
Business Development
Manager: Invest Northern
Ireland (San Jose office)
• Alex McCabe, Graduate
Trainee: Linklaters,
London
And more
• Monique Geddis
(pictured), Banking
Administrator: First Trust
Bank (currently studying
for a Graduate Diploma
in Accounting)
• Emily Anderson, Trainee
Executive: Lanson’s
Communications
(London PR company)